Clock system



A. DEIBELE CLOCK S YSTEM Sept. 11, 1934.

Filed June 9, 1933 lberleibele Patented Sept. 11, 1934 iraosrArEs PATE OFFE 3 Claims.

This invention relates in general to clock systems and more particularly has reference to a means by which a master clock 'cancontrol and cause the operation ofone or more secondary blocks.

This invention has for one of its' objects the provision of a clock system in which the master clock can control the'operation of any desired number of secondary clocks without the necessity --for transformers and the other customary expensive electrical apparatus. It is an object that this means shall be as simpleand inexpensive to manufacture while at the same time furnishing j efficient and accurate service with the smallest 15"'-consurnption of electric current.

It is further an object of this invention to provide a system in which failure of one of the secondary clock mechanisms to properly function for anyreason will V,not'in anyV way interfere vwith the functioning of -the other secondaryv clock mechanisms.

Itis a further object to produce a device which may becperated' on either alternating or direct current, which will have no A. C. hum, which will eliminate the hammering of magnets as experienced inmagnetic systems, which will eliminate necessity for balancing of circuits and which will obviate the necessity for all low Voltage equipment such as batteries, etc.

' Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it being distinctly understood that the same areby way of illustration and example only and are not to be taken as in any way limiting the vspirit or scope of this invention. .The spirit and scope of this invention is to be limited only by the prior art taken in connection with the accompanying claims. f Y

Referring now more particularly to the drawing l in which like numerals indicateV corresponding partsfthroughout: Y K. Figure 1 is a"diagrammatic View? illustrating a clock 'system constructed in accordance with this invention',

mechanism showing the means for actuating the same.

Figure 3 is a View of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 2 looking at the side thereof. In accordance with this invention, the master clock 1 is provided and is connected by means of conductors 2 and switch 3 to the electrical supply mains '4.' As the mechanism of' the master clock advancesit is adapted to` form intermittent contact in the customary manner so as -to connect Figure 2 is a rear View of a secondary clock the conductors 2 intermittently to the conductors 5, the conductors 5 leading to the heating element 6 within the closed container 7. The upper wall of this closed container is in the form of a nexible diaphragm 8, and the space within the closed 60 container is adapted to be lled with air or some other suitable gas.

Secured to the diaphragm 8 and extending upwardly therefrom is a rod 9 carrying at its upper end an insulated bar 10 provided with a pair of contacts 11. These contacts 1l are in turn connected by means of a pair of conductors 12 to the supply mains 4.

Upon closing of the circuit through the clock l, the heater element 6 will be energized thus causing the air or other gas within the container 7 to increase in temperature and expand. This will obviously result in the movement of the diaphragm 8 upwardly or outwardly lso as to cause rod 9 to move the contact bar 10 and the contacts 1l carried thereby upwardly. The contact bar 13 which is xed' and carries contacts 14 is positioned just above the contact bar 10 so that upon upward movement of the Contact bar 10 as just mentioned contacts will be formed between the contacts l1 and the contacts 14. This will energize the conductors 15 which are respectively connected to the contacts 14, and to which the actuating means for the secondary clocks 16 are connected in parallel.

Referring now more specically to the secondary clock mechanism, it will be seen that each secondary clock consists essentially of a pair of front and rear frame members 17 and 18 interconnected at spaced positions by means vof the spacers 19. As illustrated in Figure 2, the rear frame member 18 is securedto the rear ends of the spacer members 19 by means of screws`20 or the like.

The clock mechanism itself is of the somewhat conventional type having a minute hand 2l and an hour hand 22, the minute hand being mounted on the outer end of a shaft 23 and gears 24 and 25 being provided for maintaining the proper ratio of movement between the minute hand and the hour hand. Y

Rearwardly of the gears 24 and 25, there are provided a pair of spaced cog wheels 26 and 27 respectively mounted on the shaft 23. A bracket 28 is secured to the front support 17 ofv the clock and extends rearwardly to a point adjacent the cog wheel 26,- where it forms a pivotal support for a pawl 29 adapted to prevent the shaft 23 from turning backwards.

Pivotally mounted on a pin 30 and extending 1 parallel to and between the two cog wheels 26 and 27 is a lever 31. This lever is provided intermediate its ends with a laterally extending pin 33 carrying a pawl 34 at its end, said pawl being adapted for engagement with the cog wheel 26 so as to advance the same by moving forwardly when the lever 31 is swung downwardly or in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 2 about its pivot 30. Extending in the opposite direction from the pawl 34 is a pin 37 mounted on the lever 31 in such position that as the lever moves downwardly, the pin 37 will engage between two of the cogs of the cog wheel 27 thus locking movement of the shaft 23 and preventing movement of the lever 3l from moving the shaft 23 about too great an amount.

the next downward movement.

The means for moving the lever 31 upwardly and downwardly consists of a closed container 38 which may be of any suitable shape, one end of this container being in the form of a fiexible g diaphragm 39 to which is secured an upwardly extending plunger 40. The interior of this container is filled with air or some other gas Yand there is positioned within the container an electric heater element 41 having its terminals connected to the binding posts 42' which extend through the container walls. These binding posts 42 are in turn connected to the conductors 15 as illustrated in Figure 1. The rod or plunger member 40 which extends upwardly from the diaphragm 39 is pivotally connected'by means of a pin 32 to the outer end of the lever 31.

The operation of this invention is as follows: When the master clock delivers its impulses at intervals of one minute or at Vsome other suitable intervals, it closes the circuit to the relay consisting of the container 7, the heater 6, and

the contacts 11 and 14. This Vit will be seen closes the circuit from the supply mains 4 to all of the secondary clocks simultaneously. The heater elements in each of the various containers 38 are'of the quick heating type so that as soon as they are supplied with current in the manner just described, they will heat Ythe air or other gas which is in the containers and cause each ofthe diaphragms 39 to move upwardly instantly, thus causing the rods 40 to move the levers 31 in a clockwise direction when viewed from the rear as illustrated in Figure 2.y Immediately when the circuit through the heater element 6 in the relay isbroken, the gas within the container 7 cools off and causes the contact between Y movement of the lever 31.

the contacts 11 and 14` to be broken thus deeriergizing each of the heaters 4 1. The gas within each of the containers 38 will then cool off causing the diaphragms to move downwardly and thus move the lever 31 of each clock in a counterclockwise direction. The pawls 34 will then engage the teeth of the cog wheel 26 and will cause this cog wheel to turn so as to advance Vthe minute hand of the clock by the desired each of the secondary clocks will be stepped upv by the predetermined amount.

It is further to be noted that each of the secondary clocks of this system is independent in its operation with the exception that it is supplied with current and controlled from a common source. Any failure of operation of any one of the secondary clocks will in no wise interfere with the operation of the other clocks.

It is further to be noted that the device just described carries out all the objects of this invention, that itmay be used with either alternating or direct current as desired, that there will be no alternating current hum when it is used with alternating current, that no balancing of circuits is necessary as all are in parallel, that there will `be no hammering of magnets as in lmagnetic clocks, and that necessity for low voltage equipment such as batteries, etc. is eliminated. At the same time, the downward movement of the shaft 31 is arrested so that it is inv the'proper position to move upwardly in preparation forv It is to be understood, of course, that the relay placed in the secondary circuit. In this event, the master clock will, of course control the flow of current-to the vsecondary clocks directly. The use ,of the relay, however, makes it possible to place any desirable number of clocks in the secondary circuit without placing an undue burden on the master clock.

It is further noted that by the device above setV forth veach of the secondary clocks will be moved forward by exactly the proper amount, that the hands of the secondary clocks cannot be moved backwardly by the upward movement of the lever 31 because of the detent action of the pawl 29, and that the advancingV steps of the secondary clocks cannot be too great because of the interengagement of the pin 37 with the cog wheel 27 when the proper forward movement has taken place.

What I claim is:-

1. In a system of the character described, a series of secondary clocks, a closed gas filled container for each of said secondary clocks, one wall of each container consisting of a exible diaphragm,an electric heater element within each closed container, a ratchet wheel on each secondary clock mechanism, a lever xedly pivoted adjacent said ratchet wheel, a pawl on such lever adapted to operatively engage the Ateeth ofsaid ratchet wheel and to turn the same upon movement of said lever in one direction, a second pawl adapted to engage said wheel to prevent turning of the same in a reverse direction upon movement ofv said lever in the other direction, means extending from the diaphragm of the corresponding closed container to said lever for causing movement of said lever in one direction upon expansion of the gas within said containenand in the other direction upon the contraction of the gas within said container, a current source, switch means connected to said current source, means connecting the heater elements in the containers for said secondary clocks in parallel to said switch means to besimultaneously energized from said current source when said switch means is closed,

- a master closed container similar to said secondary closed containers, 'means connecting said switch means to the diaphragm ofthe master closed container to be opened and closed by the contraction and expansion of the gas in the master closed container, and a master clock for periodically connecting and disconnecting the heater element in the master closed container to a current source to cause said switch means to be periodically closed and opened, wherebyfsaid secondary clocks will be periodically and simultaneously stepped forward without excessive flow of current through said master clock.

2. In a system of the character described, a series of secondary clocks, a closed gas lled container for each of said secondary'clocks, one wall of each container consisting of a exible diaphragm, an electric heater element within each closed container, means operatively connected with the mechanism of the corresponding secondary clock and with said diaphragm to advance the hands of such secondary clock a predetermined amount by each inward movement of the diaphragm, a current source, switch means connected to said current source, means connecting the heater elements in the containers for said secondary clocks in parallel to said switch means to be simultaneously energized from said current source when said switch means is closed, a master closed container similar to said secondary closed containers, means connecting said switch means to the diaphragm of the master closed container to be opened and closed by the contraction and expansion of the gas in the master closed container, and a master clock for periodically connecting and disconnecting the heater element in the master closed container to a current source to cause said switch means to be periodically closed and opened, whereby said secondary clocks will be periodically and simultaneously stepped forward without excessive flow of current through said master clock.

3. In a system of the character described, a series of secondary clocks, a closed, gas lled container for each of said secondary clocks, each container having a part movable upon the expansion and contraction of the gas within the container, an electric heater element within each closed container, means operatively connected with the mechanism of the corresponding secondary clock and with said movable part of the container to advance the hands of such secondary clock a predetermined amount by each inward movement of said movable part, a current source, switch means connected to said current source, means connecting the heater elements in the containers for said secondary clocks in parallel to said switch means to be simultaneously energized from said current source when said switch means is closed, a master closed container similar to said secondary closed containers, means connecting said switch means to the movable part of the master closed container to be opened and -closed by the contraction and expansion of the gas in the master closed container, and a master clock for periodically connecting and disconnecting the heater element in the master closed container to a current source to cause said switch means to be periodically closed and opened, whereby said secondary clocks will be periodically and simultaneously stepped forward without excessive ilow of current through said master clock.

ALBERT DEIBELE. 

